God's Encouragement

These past few days have been an emotional roller coaster. I have been continually discouraged by fund raising, bummed to leave such an amazing area and even more upset that I have to leave such amazing friends. I have begun to doubt whether Vietnam is where God really wants me. However, through my trials I have seen hints of God's encouragement and have been so blessed by them that I can only believe that all of my trials are Satan's efforts to discourage me from going. I get hope from this because if he is trying this hard to keep me here, God is going to perform some crazy miracles in Vietnam.
As some may know, I tried to sell home made crafts at my school. These same items sold like crazy during my sister's fund raising, so I thought the result would be the same. However, every day when I would collect money I would find at most $7, which adds to the pot but was not what I was expecting. Yet on the last day, one of my coworkers, who was a huge encouragement from the beginning, went to check on how much I had made that day to find a $20 bill! When I looked at the table to see what was purchased, I saw that there was not enough items gone to have filled that purchase.
Also that day, one of the tutors gave us a good bye present, a plastic bag filled with popsicle sticks. On each stick was a word such as "kindness"or "integrity. Each day we are supposed to pull a stick and live out that word. One one stick there was a website that turned out to be an inspirational quote website. I singed up to receive daily emails but did not look at the first one until today. What I found was another push from God. Life is defined more by its risks than by its samenesses. -Mary Anne Radmacher
Could this come at a more perfect time? I have been so content in the rountine of my SLO bubble that I have become afriad to take risks for God. Yes he could use me here, but he is not calling me to do ministry here but in Vietnam.
A last bit of encouragment came from my project leader who knows I have been discourgaed in support raising. Yesterday I got a book in the mail called Friend Raising. In the first three pages it discussed independence vs. interdependence. It made me think of how many times I went into my staff room to set out my items thinking that the money I raised was all up to me. Yet these pages say that we are not to be independent but interdependent. We are supposed to rely on our support system of friends and family and more importantly, on God. Of course I am not going to get anywher if I rely on my own strength. So I am listening to Ephesians 3:20 and trusting that God "is able to do immearsureably more than all we ask or imagine."
As a side note, I don't want to say that the support I have raised is not awesome because I am so greatful to those who have supported me. I have been so blessed by what I have received, I just had the image in mind that God would poof money into my account because I am following his will. However, man takes credit even when it is not our doing. If I did not have to work for the money, I would not have to rely fully on him which is all he wants.
Thank you for your continued support and prayer!
Quick update on Kari and James: They are official parents and I am an official aunt! Ava is the most beautiful niece and I cannot wait to get to know her. I don't know when they will be back if you could pray for their continued safety that would be great!